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    <td width="98%"><font size="4"><p ALIGN="left"></font><img src="bult.gif" width="25"
    height="33" alt="bult.gif (897 bytes)"><font size="4"><font face="Courier New"><strong> <a
    href="#1">Hezbollah: Identity and goals</a></strong></font></font></td>
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<p ALIGN="left"></font><a name="1"></a><img src="bult.gif" width="25" height="33"
alt="bult.gif (897 bytes)"><font size="4"><font face="Courier New"><strong> Hezbollah:
Identity and goals</strong></font></p>
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    <td><p ALIGN="LEFT"><font face="Courier New" size="4"><strong>Hezbollah is an Islamic
    struggle movement.Its emergence is based on an ideological, social, political and
    economical mixture in a special Lebanese, Arab and Islamic context .</strong></font></p>
    <p ALIGN="LEFT"><font face="Courier New" size="4"><strong>As a result of this background
    Hezbollah went through various decisive moments in its history. With the most important
    moment being in 1982 the year of the Zionist invasion of Lebanon. This invasion led to the
    occupation of the capital Beirut making it the second Arab capital to be occupied during
    the Arab-&#147;Israeli&#148; conflict, with Jerusalem being the first. This crossroad
    speeded up the presence of Hezbollah as a struggle movement that is totally affiliated in
    the long complicated and complex fight against the Zionist enemy. The starting point of
    that struggle being the Zionist occupation of Palestine, and then to many of the Arab
    lands in Egypt, Syria and Jordan leading up to Lebanon. All that led to the establishment
    of the identity of Hezbollah as a struggle movement against the Zionists. Add to that many
    social, economical, political and cultural ideals of the Shiaa in Lebanon. Another very
    important factor that developed Hezbollah was the establishment of the Islamic Revolution
    in Iran that was led by the late Imam Khomeini. This revolution consolidated new concepts
    in the field of Islamic thought mainly the concept of Willayat Al-Faqih. The revolution
    also generalized Islamic expressions against the west such as arrogance, the great Satan,
    hypocrites and the oppressed.</strong></font></p>
    <p ALIGN="LEFT"><font face="Courier New" size="4"><strong>With this crossroad and with the
    historic tie between the Shiaas in Lebanon and in Iran, which is a doctrinal tie. As well
    as of the reason that Iran hosts the second most important religious school of the Shiaa
    in Qom with the second being the Al-Najaf school in Iraq. But because of many obvious
    reasons Qom has occupied the number one Shiaa school in the world today.</strong></font></p>
    <p ALIGN="LEFT"><font face="Courier New" size="4"><strong>Due to that it was only normal
    for the ideological doctrine in Iran to take root in Lebanon. This tie was very quickly
    translated on the ground by direct support from the Islamic Republic of Iran through its
    revolutionary guards and then to Hezbollah that was resisting the &#147;Israeli&#148;
    occupation.</strong></font></p>
    <p ALIGN="LEFT"><font face="Courier New" size="4"><strong>This religious and ideological
    tie between Hezbollah and Iran following the revolution with its stance towards the
    Zionist entity had a great effect on releasing vital material and moral support to
    Hezbollah. This support speeded up the acknowledgement of making Hezbollah one of the
    leading struggle movements against the Zionists. But during and after 1985 Hezbollah was
    the only such movement in this field.</strong></font></p>
    <p ALIGN="LEFT"><font face="Courier New" size="4"><strong>It was not by cheer coincidence
    that Hezbollah turned into a struggle movement against the &#147;Israeli&#148; occupation.
    Because Hezbollah&#146;s ideological ideals sees no legitimacy for the existence of
    &#147;Israel&#148; a matter that elevates the contradictions to the level of existence.
    And the conflict becomes one of legitimacy that is based on religious ideals. The seed of
    resistance is also deep in the ideological beliefs of Hezbollah, a belief that found its
    way for expression against the Zionist occupation of Lebanon. And that is why we also find
    the slogan of the liberation of Jerusalem rooted deeply in the ideals of Hezbollah.
    Another of its ideals is the establishment of the an Islamic Government.</strong></font></p>
    <p ALIGN="LEFT"><font face="Courier New" size="4"><strong>The Islamic Resistance was able
    to direct very painful blows to the Zionist enemy forcing them to withdraw step by step.
    One of the principal withdrawals is that of 1985 leading up to the withdrawal from the
    Christian area Jezzine. And finally leaving the enemy with no choice but to withdraw
    completely as a final solution to their problems.</strong></font></p>
    <p ALIGN="LEFT"><font face="Courier New" size="4"><strong>Hezbollah also used one of its
    own special types of resistance against the Zionist enemy that is the suicide attacks.
    These attacks dealt great losses to the enemy on all thinkable levels such as militarily
    and mentally. The attacks also raised the moral across the whole Islamic nation.</strong></font></p>
    <p ALIGN="LEFT"><font face="Courier New" size="4"><strong>It is also vital to state here,
    that the resistance gained high credibility amongst the people and in all official
    statuses, both locally and internationally. The US also once stated that the resistance is
    a justified movement in facing the &#147;Israeli&#148; occupation.</strong></font></p>
    <p ALIGN="LEFT"><font face="Courier New" size="4"><strong>The resistance also established
    an internal national axis in a way that was never witnessed in Lebanon before. This matter
    is of vital interest when we notice how Lebanon is divided into various religions, sects,
    ideologies, societies, cultures etc.</strong></font></p>
    <p ALIGN="LEFT"><font face="Courier New" size="4"><strong>Today, Hezbollah is one of the
    most prominent Lebanese political parties that has its presence in the parliament with 8
    MPs.</strong></font></p>
    <p ALIGN="LEFT"><font face="Courier New" size="4"><strong>Hezbollah today also commands
    respect politically after it proved its strength with its presence by respecting the
    values of others in the field.</strong></font></p>
    <p ALIGN="LEFT"><font face="Courier New" size="4"><strong>Hezbollah also sees itself
    committed in introducing the true picture of Islam, the Islam that is logical. Committed
    to introduce the civilized Islam to humanity.</strong></font></p>
    <p ALIGN="LEFT"><font face="Courier New" size="4"><strong>Hezbollah also sees itself
    committed in introducing the Islam that is confidant in achieving justice, as well as
    introducing the Islam that protects all human rights. Introducing the Islam that supports
    education, the Islam that offers medical support. Hezbollah also has its own cultural plan
    to attract and convince through civilized and humanitarian means as specified in the human
    rights laws, far from any use of violence or coercion.</strong></font></p>
    <p ALIGN="LEFT"><font face="Courier New" size="4"><strong>It should also be clear that the
    kind of Islam that Hezbollah seeks is a civilized one that refuses any kind of oppression,
    degradation, subjugation and colonization. Hezbollah also stretches its arm of friendship
    to all on the basis of mutual self-respect.</strong></font></p>
    <p ALIGN="LEFT"><font face="Courier New" size="4"><strong>The Islamic path that Hezbollah
    follows is one of a message that aims to establish peace and justice to all humanity
    whatever their race or religion. Hezbollah does not have a problem with anyone, but it
    feels responsible towards him or her to clarify the true Islam far away of any fanaticism.</strong></font></p>
    <p ALIGN="LEFT"><font face="Courier New" size="4"><strong>Hezbollah does not wish to
    implement Islam forcibly but in a peaceful and political manner, that gives the chance to
    the majority to either accept or refuse. If Islam becomes the choice of the majority only
    then will it be implemented. If not it will then continue to co-exist with others on the
    basis of mutual understanding using peaceful methods to reach peaceful solutions. And that
    is how the case should be to the non-Islamists as well.</strong></font></td>
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